Mercury-vapor lamp.



MTA/553,55; '2 3 A. E. RICHARBSON. MERCURY VAPOR LAMP.

.APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 12, 1905.

1,010,455. Patented Dec.5,1911.

and at the same u un.

USTIN E. RICHARDSON, F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSEGNSB. T0 GENERAL-ELECTRIC COMPNY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YGRK.

MERCURY-VPGR LAMP.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN E. RICHARD- sozv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Mercury-Vapor Lamps, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to mercury vapor lamps and emhodiescertain features of construction whereby areliable operation is incured, and whereby an apparatus may be produced having a high lighting capacity time a. light weight and small bulk. A

'.My invention will be better understood hy' reference tothe drawing forming a part of this specification. The novel features of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. t.

Figure l. is an elevation partly in section showing the novel Afeatures of my improved lamp; and Fig; 2 is a detail view.

An evacuated envelop 1 of glass or other suitable material is provided with a mercury cathode 2, which may be connected to the external circuit by means of a platinum lead-wire 3 passing` through the lower end of the glass tube l. The upper end of the tube is also provided with a platinum or other suitable lead-wire 4, which extends a considerable distance into the tube and oared' to serve as anode for the mercury vapor are. n iron Cylinder 6 is slidably mounted on the lead-wire 4 between anode 5 and the upper end of the evacuated tube` l, and is free to move up and down on the leadwire when acted upon by suitable magnetic means such as a solenoid 7 at the upper end of the tube. A high resistance filament 8 of carbon or other suitable material is permanently securedfto the iron armature G, and passes freely through a hole in the can bon anode 5, so that it may be lifted with This high resistance filament 8 extends throughout the length of the vacuum tube and nia-kes contact with the mercury -ealthode 2 when the armature 6 is in its lowermost position, but is not in contact therewith when the armature has been raisedto its ugpermost,position. Suitable i stays 9 and 10 are provided in the tube to prevent lateral motion yoi' thel filament. 'lo

insure a reliable path for current'from the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 5., figli.

Application led .lune 12, 1905.

Serial No. 264,818.

electrical connection of low resistance bei tween the Filament 8 Iand the anode no matter whether the filament is stationary or in motion.

.To start the lamp, the anode 5 is connected through eiectroniagnet 7 to the positive pole of a source of direct current, and the mercury cathode 2 is connected to the correspondingnegat-ive pole. Current then flows through the electromagnet 7 and through the lead-wire 4 and platinum spiral 11 to the filament 8, and from the lower end of the filament through the mercury back to the source. This flow of current through the electromagnet 7 causes it to lift the armature 6` and the attached filament 8, with the result that when the filament leaves the surface of the mercury a small arc is produced at the mercury surface and this small or startingl arc lengthens into the main are between the anode 5 and the mercury cathode 2. f for any reason the circuit is inter rupted, the filament 8 will automatically return to its original position, and may again loe lifted when stored.

By the construction above described, I am able to use a mercury cathode consisting of only a small quantity of mercury so that the supply of power is re-,

the apparatus is light in weight and can be readily shipped without serious danger of fracture from rough handling.

When the lamp is in normal operation. a considerable quantity of mercury is vaporized on the surface of the cathode 2 and condenses in other parts of the tube l. To facilitate this condensation I provide the walls of the tubewith a plurality of corrugations forming a plurality of enlargements 12, 13 and 14, thus securing a large heat radiating suriace and a large condensing area without increasing greatly the total diameter of the tube. Furthermore, this iinproved construction of the glass chamber greatly facilitates its manufacture, as all the parts can be blown from the same piece of tubing withoutjoints and without dimin at the points of largest diameter, thereby producing a strong tube of small bulk.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters lPatent of the United States, is,-

l. In a vapor-'electric apparatus, an evacuated chamber, a mercur electrode therein, an anode rigidly secure in said chamber,

-a filament extending through said chamber,

meansA for moving said ilament longitudinally, and a permanent electrical connection between said filament and said anode.

2. In a vapor electric apparatus, an evacuated chamber, an anode rigidly mounted i therein, a high resistance filament in said chamber, automatic means for moving s Lid filament with respect to said anode, and a flexible connection `tor insuring a 16W repath between said filament and said 4. In a v apor electric apparatus, an anode, ,a high resistance filament movable with re# spect to said anode, automatic means for 5. The combination of an evacuated chamber, a lead-Wire passing through the wall thereof, an anode rigidly mounted on said lead-Wire, an armature of magnetic material.

slidably mounted on said lead-Wirc,"a high f resistance filament connected to saidtarlma-` ture, and means or insuring a low resistance path for current etween said lead-Wire and filament. y ,v 6. The combination of an evacuated chainhcr, a lead-Wire passing through the Wall*- tiiereof, an anode rigidly mounted on said lead-wire, an armature of magnetic material slidaloly mounted on said lead-Wire, resistance lainent connected to said armature, and a metallic spiral electrically connecting said filament and anode to provide a low resistance path for current therebetween.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of J une, 1905.

` AUSTIN E. RICHARDSON. IWtneSSeS: i

JOHN A. MGMANUS, Jr.,

J. GORDON Ramsar.

a high Y i 

